Bottle crate



Aug. 15, 1939 w. A. MOCUTCHEN 2,169, 50

BOTTLE CRATE Filed D ec. 20, 1937 Ihmcntor w W 0 a 3% Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES E ATENT OFFIQE" 7 Claim.

My invention relates to a bottle crate, or simi lar container, the body of which is composed substantially of wooden slats suitably assembled with metallic corner braces, bottom metal sheathed runners, and interposed wire grids for the reception and spacing of the bottles.

In my previous application, Serial No. 124,554, I dispose the bottom, bottle-supporting, grid elements wholly within the interior of the crate and support them on the lower inturned ends of the comer braces. These corner braces are angled in cross section and extend above the top of the finished crate toform corner stacking projections. To permit the lower ends of these corner braces to form supports for the bottom, bottle-supporting grid, or to allow the marginal frame of that grid to overhang in the bottom of the crate, is to leave elements that would interfere with the convenient nesting of the crates and that would form inward projections upon which foreign matter might lodge and collect.

One object of my present invention is to perfect the means for the mounting of the bottom, 25 bottle-supporting grid so as to leave no projections within the interior of the crate which will in anywise interfere with the nesting of the crates. To this end my present invention contemplates metal sheathing the bottom runners of. 30 the crate body, and adapting the runner sheathing to form a top recess for the reception of a marginal frame wire or wires which support the bottom, bottle-supporting grid.

In my application aforesaid I have shown and 35 described means for rabbeting the meeting edges of the crate body slats to provide for mounting, in seats formed between them, the marginal frame wires of the upper, or bottle spacing, grid or grids. This provided a very strong and yet 0 concealed brace for readily interlocking these spacer grid frames with the crate walls, and though the grid wires at all different levels were tied together by vertical members each would transmit the strains imposed thereon to the others, yet only the grid elements above the bottom grid would be interlocked with, and thus be rigidly mounted in, the crate body.

According to my present invention, I adapt the metal sheathed runner to receive and brace in 50 position the marginal frame wire for the bottom, bottle-supporting grid, and this grid, being thus both mounted and interlocked in its operating position, will greatly increase the strength and ruggedness of the whole grid assembly. 55 A further distinctive feature of. my invention arises out of the placing of the opening in the runner sheathing for the reception of the bottom grid frame wire, so that it is overhung on both sides of the bottom edges of the overlying crate slats, I provide protection against water, and the 6 like, gaining access to the filler strip within such runner sheathing. Preferably, I deflect upwardly the top edges of the sheathing to form between them and the enclosed filler strip an appropriate recess to receive the grid frame wire, and this 10 upward deflection of the sheathing edges will have the effect of shedding outwardly any dirt or water that might otherwise work into the joint between the runner and. slats above it and rot the filler strip. 15

A further advantage of my invention arises from the provision in the bottom, bottle-supporting grid of. both longitudinal and transverse intersecting members which are tied to a marginal frame wire that is so engaged between the edges of the runner sheathing as to be very strongly held in place so that its cross braces will transfer stresses from side to side and end to end, thus tying the metal sheathed runners together and more stoutly supporting the bottle '25 grid and bracing the opposite runner sides together to better resist lateral strains. Thus, by the new manner of supporting the bottom grid, I increase the strength of the crate in so far as strains and shocks are sustained by its bottom runners, whereas, in my application aforesaid, the bottom runners were not cross braced by the bottom, bottle-supporting grid.

Any one of the bottom sheathed runners can be readily detached and replaced merely by the removal of two rivets which anchor it to the corner braces, thus simplifying the replacement of an element subjected to a high rate of deterioration and maximum wear.

My invention further comprises the novel de- '40 tails of construction which are hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. i is a plan view of my improved crate. Fig. 2 is a view showing one-half. of the crate in side elevation and the other half in vertical cross-section.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the crate showing half in end elevation and half in vertical cross-section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of one embodiment of my invention showing a section taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 illustrating a modified arrangement of the joint betype of crate corresponding substantially, except in respect of the bottom runners and its grid assembly mounting, with the crate illustrated and claimed in my companion application aforesaid.

The crate as shown comprises top side slats 5, bottom side runners I, and interposed side slats B, 9 and 10. The crate also comprises top end slats II, bottom end runners l2, and interposed slats l3, I4 and !5. These slats are braced together and held assembled to form the crate by the provision of external corner angle irons l5 and internal corner angle iron braces H, the external angle irons being set in flush by rabbeting the ends of the, slats they overlap, and the two angle irons of each corner being connected by rivets passing through the interposed side and end slats to rigidly assemble the crate.

'The outer angles I6 have their top flanges I8 cut and shaped to be bent in against the stacking iron l9 formed at the top of the adjacent angle 11. These angles l5 and IT extend from top to bottom of the crate and serve rigidly to brace and interlock the slat members.

Within the crate I provide a grid assembly comprising, in the embodiment shown, two upper bottle spacing and positioning grids and a lower bottle supporting grid. Each of the upper grids comprises similarly arranged, intersecting transverse and longitudinal wires 23 and 2! welded at their intersections to each other and to a marginal frame 22. The marginal frame element of each may be composed of one continuous wire,

as indicated in Fig. 6, bent at right angles at the 'crate corners and having its ends welded at 32 to form a continuous grid frame, or I may use separate end and side frame wires, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. l, to form the marginal grid frame. The wires 20 and 2! of these positioning grids lie aligned in intersecting, vertical planes and as shown they are arranged for the reception of a dozen bottles.

The bottom supporting grid is composed of longitudinal wires 23 which intersect and are welded to transverse wires 2! aligned with the wires 2! in the upper grids, and these wires of the bottom grid are welded or made fast at their ends to an underlying marginal wire frame 22 corresponding to the frame wire of each upper grid both in size, shape and construction.

The wires 26 and 24 of the several grids are Welded to vertical tie wires 24 which thus brace the wire elements of all three grids together. The grid wires 23 are disposed so that the bottles will rest on, and be supported by, them.

From the foregoing it will be noted that all of the marginal grid frames 22 are of a size to lie centrally within grooves provided in the joints between the adjacent edges of the slats and runners forming the sides and ends of the crate. The frame wires of the upper positioning grids are adapted to be received in slots 25 cut centrally along the bottom edges of the slats 8, 9,

[3 and I4. As shown in Fig. 4, the bottom edges of these slats l3 and H! on each side of the slot lie in horizontal plane with the top wall of the slot resting on the upper grid frame wire 22 and the inner slot wall resting on the ends of the upper grid wires 2| which thus serve to support these slats in spaced relation with the subjacent slats. This arrangement applies for the intermediate grid mounting and it will permit ventila tion through the slat walls and the ready escape of water or other liquid that gets into the joints between the slats.

In Fig. 5 I show a modification of the marginal frame mounting in which the lower edges of the upper tier of slats are each formed with a widened outside flange 26 which engages the outer edge of the subjacent slat which on its inside edge is formed with aframe retaining inner flange 21 enough shorter than flange 26 to permit the frame wire 22 to lie in, the groove formed between the flanges 25 and 21 and the wires 2! connected to such frame wire, to be received and held between the upper slat and the subjacent flange 21. In both arrangements the frame wire 221s braced against both inward and outward thrust or pull by the sides of the slot in which it rests, but in Fig. 5 the elongation of the flange 25 so as to abut the subjacent slat, will close the crate against free ventilation but will prevent moisture gaining access thereto becoming trapped in the frame slot.

The most distinctive feature of my invention, however, has relation to the manner'of mounting the frame wire 22 of the bottom, bottle-supporting grid. Referring to Figs. 4 and 6, the bottom runners, generally designated 1, comprise each an inner wood filler strip 28 which is surrounded by a strong, stiff metallic sheathing 29 arranged so that its upper edges 36 are bent inwardly and upwardly over the top of the filler strip and stand spaced apart sufficiently to permit the bottom grid frame wire 22 to be snugly interiitted between these sheathing' edges 38 while resting on the filler strip they enclose. In this arrangement the longitudinal wires 23 abut against an outer flange, corresponding to 26, on the bottom edge of the slats l5 and support each of said slats with the bottom edge of its flange 25 in engagement with the adjacent outer sheathing flange 30. The sheathing extends continuously for the full length of each side and endrunner,

be cut on a bevel at the corners they will form' a continuous receiving slot or seat for the frame wire 22 without requiring any notching.

To assemble the crate, its bottom runners are first arranged with the end runners l2 abutting at their ends against the side runners I and at each corner the runners are interlocked in position by being riveted in position between the inner and outer corner braces I6 and H. These braces are pressed slightly apart to facilitate the introduction of the other crate members which are assembled in the following order; the bottom grid frame is set in place with its marginal frame wire 22 interlocked between the sheathing flanges 38, the grid wires being disposed above their marginal frame wire; the bottom slats l0 and l5 are then dropped into position on the bottom grid frame; the intermediate positioning grid is then set in position with its marginal frame wire 22 disposed above its intersecting wires: which rest on the top edge of the slats l and I; the slats 9 and M, with their grooved under edges down.- most, are inserted in position, and the top grid frame is then placed on the top of these slats 9 and I4 just as they have been described for the intermediate positioning grid; the slats 8 and I3, with their grooved edges downmost, are then set in position; the top slats 5 and II are then placed; and finally all of the slats are riveted into position by rivets inserted through the: corner irons and the adjacent slat ends. The grid. frames are then braced together by welding their vertically aligned wires to tie wires 24. When thus completed the marginal frame wires of the several grids are positively interlocked in position between separable elements of the crate and all marginal frame wires are braced together by their interlock with the crate body and the connection between their wires and the vertical tie wires 24.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is: susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A crate comprising marginal side and end walls and bottom metal-sheathed runners, means to assemble said walls and runners, each runner comprising a filler strip and a metallic sheathing bent about the strip and upturned to form a shoulder extending along the top of the runner, and grid work for supporting bottles in. the crate comprising a marginal frame adapted to be mounted in engagement with said shoulder in the joints on the top of the runners.

2. A crate comprising marginal side and end walls and bottom metal-sheathed runners, means to assemble said walls and runners, each runner comprising a filler strip and a metallic sheathing bent about the strip so as to form an open joint along the top of the runner, and grid work for spacing and supporting bottles in the crate com.- prising upper grid elements secured to the sides of the crate for positioning the bottles, and lower grid elements adapted to support the bottles and comprising a marginal frame adapted to be mounted in interlocked relation in said open joints on the top of the runners.

3. A crate comprising side and end walls and bottom runners, means to brace said walls and runners together, said runners comprising filler strips with a metal sheathing having its free edges bent upwardly and inwardly over the top of each filler strip to provide between them and the strip a grid frame seat, and a bottle supporting grid having marginal frame side and end portions adapted to interfit in the seats formed between the edges of the runner sheathing and to be held engaged in said seats by the superjacent crate walls.

4. A crate according to claim 3, in which the side and end members of the grid frame are connected together and the frame seats on the runners are cut away at their corners to form continuous seats adapted to receive said continuous grid frame.

5. A crate comprising slat sides and ends and bottom side and end runners, corner braces to which the runners and slats are adapted to be anchored, and a grid assembly comprising upper and lower marginal frame wires substantially similar and forming frames all having a perimeter greater than the internal perimeter of the crate, the opposed edges of adjacent slats and runners having formed between them grid frame seats which comprise marginal shoulders engaged within the adjacent grid frame.

6. A crate comprising bottom runners: and slats forming its body walls with brace means to assemble same, means forming grid frame receiving seats between the runners and the superjacent slats and also between intermediate slats, a grid assembly comprising bottle positioning elements and bottle supporting elements, a marginal frame to which the positioning elements are attached, a marginal frame to which the supporting elements are attached, vertical braces connecting said positioning and supporting elements, and means to mount said marginal frame members in concealed interlocked relation between crate wall elements.

7. A crate having a sectional body and a grid work within the body comprising cross brace elements and marginal frame elements connected to said cross brace elements in position to be received in the joints between body sections, said joints comprising on the super-jacent body section a dependent outer flange and on the subjacent body section an upstanding inner flange spaced from the outer flange to receive between them said grid frame and from the superjacent body section to receive between them said cross brace elements, thereby to provide an externally enclosed self draining grid frame seat.

WILLIAM A. MCCUTCHEN. 

